Mohave County miner., 1887-03-19
FLOWERS AND TREES.
Rsi1sbls DtSseaoss for Preserving The1
A 0OOA condit10n.

Rsllsbls Dirseaoss for Pvsssrvisg Tbs1
" Good Condition.
Gathm the flowers only on dry. sunny
days. when as free from atmospheric
moisture as possible. Al most wild
Howers and all delicate ferns droop and
wiiher II carried in the hand. the best
plan Is TO place them one by one be-
tween the leaves OF hook az soon as
gathered. ia book has not been pro-
vidcd for the parposs place the flowers
between layers Of moss. damp round
the stems. but dry round the blossoms
Carried thus in basket or botanical
case they viii keep fresh for some
hours. bit rs soon as possible they
should be placed in water and allowed
IN stand In moderately warm room
for an hour or two before being press
cd. in order to dry OF any moisture they
may have contracted against the moss.
The reason for being particularly care
ful a. to their dryncss il. that npon that
largely depends their retaining their
color. IL pressed when damp they In
yariabIy become discolorcd, or have a
faded appearance. Those in the book
may be left there for an hour or two, II
not convenient to attend 10 them at
once. but the sooner they are put into
blotting-papcr the better. Arrange
carefully, and regulate tho pressure 40
cording 10 color and texture. Ferns
can not be too firmly pressed. and yell
low and purple flowers also stand great
pressure; but red or yellow-tintcd
leaves, such as those OF the wild gcrani.
urn, and all flowers OF succulent texture,
require to be more lightly pressed, 9TH
crwisc they lose their color. Most
flowers and ferns are thc better for
having the blotting-palcr changed at
least twice during the eight or ten days
required for pressing them perfectly.
T'llis Is best done by placing dry sheet
aiycvc them, taking hold Of II and the
sheet upon which they are lying, turn
[ ing over quickly The two thus held, SO
/ bringing the damp sheet uppermost,
then carefully removing that. Should
any leaf or blorsom be inclined to ad-
hore to the paper. slight tap on the
back wiz generally suffice 70 loosen II;
/ il not, 1t must be removed with the iin-
gcrs. Then place two dry sheets above
and one underneath that upon which
| the flowers are. On changing SECOND
| time, one over and ono under viii suf.
/ Hce. Primroscs. violctS. wood sorrc'
/ and several other delicate flowers aud
all very fragile ferns such as the young
| fronds OF the oak aud beech. form an
exception TO this rule. and must not be
removed from the first sheet upon
/ which they arc laid down until they arc
| perfectly dry: otherwise they will curl
| mp, and twill be found impossible 10 lay
I them fat again. Two dry sheets may.
/ however, be laid above and enc unicr
meath The sheet they are on. Mos, Il
/ pressed immed ately in the MOTT state
/ It usually Is in when gathered, need not
be changed from the papers In which il
IL first lad. Bnt II allowed to dry, a1d
then re-wct for pressing, It must be pm
/ into dry papers next day. Any thick
! sh paper will do TO press 1t In. Th,
press consists Of two r.ccc, Of hnrJ
/ wond. two or tbrc. dozca pieces OF m "
| board, cut tO the samc size, or a frac.
1 ton lcss, and an unlimited supply OF
1 ah.tc blott' ng papcr. There Is no ar.
prcciabIc advantage gained By usinC
Eotanisal paper, and blotting paper II
moro readily obtained. Before usin Z,
the a,cr should bs carefully dried IN
the sun or before fire, but not usel
whist still hot. Each layer of flowers
or leaves slr,ald have from four to s.X
th'ckncsses of paper. and then he
PLACID between two pieces Of mill
board. Two strong leather stra,s. con-
.icc.el for convcn cncc sake by
handle, like rag straps. give the ncccs
sary pressure. II still greater de-
gee than they give when drawn a.
tightly as possible Is desired. two
wedges may b. inserted b,twecn the
drap and tho wood. When removed
from tho press, The flowers and leaves
should be kept in a hook for awhile be-
fore being exposed to the air. Londoa
/ QHeen.
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